Crown cap spotting apparatus



Oct. 22, 1940. A. LQKRONQUEST CROWN CAP SPOTTING`APPARATUS 4" Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 20, 1937 s li. ieznonyusl,

Oct 22, 1940.'

A. L. KRONQUEST cRowN CAP s'PoTTING APPARATUS Fiid sept. 2o, 1957' 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 wus/Mofa.'

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Oxlzt. 22, 1940. A. I KRoNQ-UEST 2,218,540

l v CROWN CAP SPOTTING APPARATUS Filed Sept. '20, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 j "am:

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Oct. 22, 1940- A. l.. K'RoNQUEsT v CROWN CAP SPOTTING APPARATUS 41 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sepia. 20. 1937 Patented Oct. 22,

'um'rl-:DI STATES 2,218,541 chown-csr sro'rrnm mm'rus Alfred L. Kronqnest, Syracuse, N.Y., assigner to Continental Can Company,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Inc., New York,

sppuoaunn'sspmm zo, V193i, serial No. 16cm l The invention relates generally to rthe art of assembling closure caps of the well known spotted crownty'pe and primarily seeks `to provide a novel apparatusfor forming `and aiilxing the center spots carried by the sealing-pads con tained in such caps. Bottles and other forms of containers for beer or similar beverages usualy are sealed by crown caps equipped with pads of cork or other suitable yieldable sealing material faced'with linerdisks of aluminum or other foil Yor treated paper so as to prevent direct contact between the beverage and the pad and also to prevent leakage of gases. Such disks preferably are of the center'spot type which are smaller in diameter than the pads so as to 'protect the beverage from pad contact and yet permit sealing contact between the container 4pouring neck and an annulus of the more I effective sealing material of the pad. Various 2 methods and apparatus have been developed for forming and ailixing center spots and some. which have proven very effective, have employed rolled -strip supplies of spot material coated with heat fusible adhesive, heat being applied torender the adhesive soft or tacky and pressure later ,being applied to set the applied spots. In such methods and apparatus diiliculties have been en- A l--lgof Fig. 2; l vcountered in the handling of the adhesive bearing spot material, in the feeding of the material and in the formation and centering of the spots with respect to the caps to which they are to be amxed,

and in the controlling and ailixing of said spots. To the remedying of these deficiencies my present inventive efforts have been addressed.

Among the objects ofthe invention is to provide a novel apparatus for conditioning, feeding, forming, controlling and afiixing vspot material and spots formed therefrom which includes. the 40 'feeding of the material and the formationof spots thereof` .being'movable in and through each oi!- V the punches, said plungers being effective hold s by reciprocablepunches continuously moving in 1s claim, (ci. 11s-so) the formed spotsby suction and present them to the influence of an adhesive fusing heating means, and then for pressing them in centered relation against crown cap pads and releasing them by a blast of air directed against them i through the plungers. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for controlling the relative-movements of the punches and plungers and the holding and releasing of the formed spots with re- 104 spect to said plungers.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for permanently.,4 uniting the spots and the crown caps to which they are applied. with these and other objects in view which will more fully appear, the nature of the invention will be more fully understood-by following the description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.`

flnthedrawings: n

Figure 1 is a plan view of apparatus embodying the invention; v

-Il'ig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken through the .turret axes;

Rig. 31s a detail vertical section-taken along the line H of Fig. 1:

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line Fig. 5 is' a somewhat diagrammatic vertical section illustrating the step of punch-forming .9 and suction-attaching the. spot and the Afeeding -useof the pneumatic plungers (see line B-li of Fig. l); Fig.' 'i is a view similar to Fig. 5 and illustrates the use of the pneumatic plungers for applying the spots to the crown cap`pads-(see line I-1 of o Fis. 1); s

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5 land illustrates; the use of an air blast during the aiiixing of the spots(seeline88ofFig.1).

'I'he apparatus which I have devised in the practical development of the invention, and which is an example of mechanism adaptable to the practicing of my improved method of spotting crown caps, embodies -a table 5, a punch 5/ turret Aon which the center spots are formed and appliedtgthecrown caps, a transfer turret VB, and a spot setting turret C to which the assembled and center spotted crown caps are delivered by the transfer turret Iandon which presser plungers engage the center spots and serve to plungers for the purpose of controlling the posiperma'nently secure them to the cap pads to which they are applied.

The turrets A. B and C rotate about vertical axes above the table 5, as shown in Fig. 2, and the turret A is supported upon a shaft 5 rotatable in a bearing 1 formed in the table and in a vertically` alined bearing 8 formed in a casting 9 stationarily supported as at Ill above the table and including a ring portion II. comprises a rotor I2 secured upon the shaft 8 and provided adjacent its peripheral edge with a 'plurality of equidistantly spaced sleeve-hushed bores vertically disposed with their axes arranged in a circle as shown in Fig. 1. Twenty such boresv areshownin the drawings but it is to be understood that a greater or lesser number may be provided if desired.

A punch sleeve I4 is reciprocablein and through each turret bore I3, and each punch element cooperates with a die opening in a die ring or plate I5 removably secured to the rot'or I2 as` shown in Fig. 2. :Eachpunch elementalso passes `through anindividual guard and stripper nger I5 which overlies the ring I5 in adjacent but spaced relation and which includes a vertical leg adjustably secured as at I1 in a grooveway I8 a punch sleeve.' the sleeve can be rotated to adjust the relation of its cutting end'and the: col operating die plate aperture.

Each of the punch sleeves I4carries`a spot carrying and applying plunger 24 which is reciprocable in and through the sleeve'bore independently of movement 'of'said'sleeve Theseplungers have flared. lower ends'25 and the sleeves are recessed at their lower ends to receive said ared ends. At its upper end, each plunger 24 'is shoul' dered, and secured by an actuator nut head 28, to

l' an individuali valve block 21vhaving an arcuate nected by a pipe line 83 with any' suitable source,

. face 28 machined tosnugly engage theperipheral face of 'thering II and partake of movements of rotation' and reciprocation thereon. An air duct 29 is formed in and 4through'each plunger 24 and itsk associated block V21, and thesefducts are"` adapted to communicate, during certain intervals with a suction duct 85 formed in and extending a distance about the ring I I as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The suction duct is constantly .evacuated through a pipe line 3l leading to anysuitable exhausting mechanism'(not shown). At other intervals the `ducts 28 cooperate withk a .pressure duct 32 similarly .formed in the ring II and conof air under pressure (not shown). l A v A counterbore 34 is formed in the upper h endof each sleeve I4, -and a spring I5 is coiled-about-the respective plunger 24 land engagesat its respective ends with .the valve block 21 and the coun` ment of the sleeves I4, and movement'upward of wf the plungers 24,;:under urge of the springs 85, is

4resisted by a cani-ring 88 secured as at 81 upon the casting ring II and having a cam surface 58A The turret A properl engaged by the actuator nut heads 28 of theV tions of said plungers.

A crown cap feeding ring 39 is removably secured to the under face of the rotor I2 as shown \5 in Fig. 2. 'I'he peripheral edge of the ring is notched as at 48 to receive crown caps, and the notches are so shaped and spaced that crown caps fed into the notches will be perfectly centered beneath the punch units carried by the turret. Crown caps 4I are fed to the ring notches by a delivery chute 42 leading from any suitable cap feeding mechanism (not shown). The capsl rest upon a raised .supporting rib 43, and a guide rail 44 may be provided to confine them in the notches as they are being carried away from the cap feeding station.

It will be observed, by reference to Fig. 1, that the guide rail 44 extends about approximately 90 degrees of the circumference of the turret A, and in this sector the crown caps are fed to the turret and have the punchsformed-spotsaapplied centrally thereon by the'plungers 24. At the terminus of the guide rail 44, the spotted caps are received by the turret B which transfers them to the turret C. The turret B comprises a notched ring 45 of the same character as the ring 39, but smaller, and which rotates in the same horizontal plane, being fixed upon a shaft 48 vertically rotatable in a bearing 41 formed -in the table 5 and 30 in a bearing 48 supported above said table in a manner soon to be described.

' A guide rail 49 extends about 180 degrees of the transfer ring 45 and serves to hold the assembled 4and spotted caps in the notches of the ring fronr the point'at which said ring receives the caps to the point at which the ring delivers the caps tothe spot setting turret C.

r Thefspotsetting turret C comprises a verticallydisposed-shaft '58 rotatable in a bearing 5I 40 formed in the table -5, and a rotor 52 secured on said shaft asshown in Fig.- 2. l'I'his rotor is designed to provide upper and lower rings 53 equipped with a plurality of equidistantly spaced, vertically alined bores. in and through which 45 pthe presser plungers 55 are reciprocably mounted.

Twenty such plungers are shown, but it is to be understoodthat this number can be varied at will without departing from the spiritof the inven-C tion. The plungers 55 are shouldered as at 58 50 and are constantly urged downwardly, in spot pressing relation-to the crown, caps, by springs 51, coiled about them between the shoulders `58 and the under face of the upper ring.A

A notched ring sa is removably secured to the 55 under face of the rotor 52. This ring rotates in 'the same plane as the rings 88 vand 45 of theturrets A and B and serves the same purpose ofv conveying and centering the crown caps beneath the plungers. While being conveyed by the turret C the caps are confined in the ring notches by a guide raiL 58 which includes an overhanging ledge portion for overcoming any tendency of the caps` to move upwardly with the plungersl The' spring plungers of the turret C come down on the cap spots just 'after they are received by the turret ring Vnotches 45 and remain in pressing -or adhesiony setting engagement with them throughout approximately 2'70 degrees of rotation of the turret, when the plungers are again raised 70 I and the completed crown caps are stripped from` the ring grooves 48 and delivered to any suitable receiving means by 'a stripping and delivering trackway 88.

At its upper end each plunger -on the turret C 'l5 carries a square block 8l vertically reciprocable in a guide groove 82'in an upward extension or castellation of the upper ring Il. EachV bloclrV carries a roller engageable at times by a cam portion of `a track 83, the latter encircling the turret and being formed on a ring 84 supported stationarily abovethe table as shown at 85 in Figs. 1 and 2 and in turn providing-.a support for the shaft bearing 48 previously referred to. AThe cam portion is shaped to lift the plungers over the approximately 90 degrees of turret circumference intervening the point at which the spotted `caps are discharged and that at which newly spotted caps are constantly being transferred to the pressing and setting turret, and to free said plungers throughout the remainder of the turret circumference to permit the springs to press the plungers against the spotted caps.

A strip 88 of heat fusible adhesive coated foil is fed from a supply roll (not shown) by an opposed pair of positively driven feed rollers 8.1, one of which is cooled by a suitable chillingmedium soas to'prevent the foil strip becoming tacky prior to the punch-forming function thereupon. One means for so cooling the adhesive strip comprises a cooling liquid bath 88 in' which the lower feed roller dips as shownin Fig. 3. Between the feed` rollers 81 and the punching or spot forming station the fed strip 68 is engaged by a drag roll equipment 89 which retards the strip and provides a slack portion therein. `'Ihese roller equipments vpresent a strip portion 10 tangentially of the circle of punch units and between the die plate i5 and overlying stripper fingers I8 as shown inFlgs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. The rollers 88 can vbe dispensed with if desired and the strip -portion 1li fed at the same speed-at which the jpunch units travel through the strip feed sector hereinafter referred to.v

Beneath the table 5 a gas pipe 1| is' provided, and burners 12 carried by this pipe extend above' the table through suitable apertures provided to accommodate them. These burners provide a l 4heat zone beneath the turretl A and extending over the approximately I5 degrees of turret circumferencel just preceding the point at which the crown caps are fed to the turret ring notches 4l. 'I'he punch-formed spots are presented inthe heat zone in a manner soon to be describedand for the purpose .of having the lower heat fusible adhesive coated surface thereof rendered tacky by the heat, so that they will readily adhere to the crown cap pads when theyy are pressed thereagainst by the plungers 24.

V.The spots are pun h-formed at a the.A

circumfererce, of the turret A diametrically opposite that atvhich the crown vcaps arefeddn. It.

' should be understood that the tun-eta rotates By thus reciprocating the punch units during j' .rotation of the turret, each unit remains in the continuously, and in forming ther spots the punch sleeves are serially reciprocated through the tangentially disposed foil strip at the place indicated.

strip during an interval unravel and tnus'im'- parts 'afeed movement to the `slack portion 18 of the strip. The cam groove 22 includes a portion so positioned and shaped as to impart theldes ired reciprocation to each passing punch unit, and this movement'of reciprocation is so timedl with respect to the movement` of rotation of the. turret that each feed movement imparted 190` the strip portion 1l exceeds only slightly the diam-V 1 .eter of theformedspotsas shown inrigf 1. The

sector .of turret circumference in which thestrip. feed occursis indicated at 18. in Fig. 1,*and it -the plungers are elevated and will be noted that the sector is centered on a line drawn radially from the centerof the turret and bearing normal or right angular relation tothe tangentially disposed strip portion 10. `In this vmanner it is possible to utilize the punch units tn feed the strip without imparting to the strip objectionable tearing strains.

The flared head 25 of each plunger engages the end of the associated punch sleeve I4 and the suction duct in the ring l I starts at, the punching station., Thus evacuation of the plunger ducts 2,8 starts at this point and each spot will become pneumatically attached to the punch unit plunger as it is formed.

The cam surface 38 of the cam ring Ity is so shaped that it causes the plungers 24 to start moving down out of the associated punch sleeves at 14, just after the plungers have cleared the foil strip portion 10. The spot heating level is reached at 15 and the plungers are held at this level (see Fig. 6) throughout the heating zoneas hereinbefore described, the heating sector being indicated at 18.

At the Apoint of introduction of the crown caps, designated 11, the plungers 24 start moving down an additional distance until the heated spots are pressed against the pads of the crown caps, which first occurs at 18 (see Fig. '1), and at this point the suction duct 30 terminates and the evacuated condition of each plunger is relieved. Pressure contact between plunger and spotted crown cap is maintained throughout the sector 19 and at a point in this sector the pressure duct 32 is encountered, as indicatedat 80; anddirects a blast of air through the plunger ducts 29 against the applied spots which aids in effectually applying the spots to the caps and in releasing them from the plungers 24. This blast of air continues until after the spotted capshave been received by the transfer turret B. See Figs. 1 and 4. Just after the initiation of the air blast until the.commencement of a new cycle'at the punch-.forming station.

Any suitable means may be employed for iinparting continuous rotation tothe turrets A, B

andC. As an example, I have shown a drive shaft 8l equipped with a worm 82 forimparting rotation to a worm wheel 83 carried by the -shaft of the turret C. Rotation, of the shatf I8 may be transmitted to the turrets B and A by intermeshing spur gears 84, 85 and 88 mounted respectively on the shafts 5l, .48V and 8. The

'pitch circles of theintermeshig gears correspond Awith the centers over which thecrown caps travel so that the respective turrets will be timed in rotation properly to receive yand feed the caps along. i y

A worm 81 may be mounted on the shaft 8l to impart rotation, through the -worm wheel 88,

, shaft 89, worm 80 and worm wheel 9 I`, to the strip feeding rollers 61'.` It is to be understood `that the rollers 61 merely draw off the foil strip from the supply roll and present it, as before stated, in a given relation to the punchunits, thus relieving the punch uni-ts of the .effort of so` drawing Ao ff the strip. The real feeding ofthe strip, however, -is oceasionedbyv the combined reciprocatory and translatory movement of the punch units.

From the foregoing descriptio'm'taken in connection'with the accompanying drawings, it is remain elevated thought that the manner of practicing my improved crown cap spotting method, and :the manner of constructing and operating my improved spotting apparatus will be well understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

1]. In spot forming apparatus, a circular spot forming punch unit, means for reciprocating the punchunit in the general direction of its axis for the purpose'of forming spots,means for moving the punch unit in a direction other than the direction ofY reciprocation for translating formed spots to an assembling station, means for pneumatically holding a formed spot on said unit, and means for pneumatically expelling a formed spot from said unit.

' 2. In spot forming apparatus, a circular spot forming punch unit, means for reciprocating the punch unit in the general direction of its axis for the purpose of forming spots, means for moving the punch unit in a direction other than the dian air duct therethrough, means for evacuatingl rection of reciprocation for translating formed spots to an assembling station, said unit having an air duct therethrough, means for eiecting an evacuation of said duct for holding a formed spot on said unit, and means for directing a blast of air through said duct to expel said spot from said unit.

3. In spot forming, and assembling apparatus, a punchunit, means for reciprocating the punch unit in the general direction of its axis for the purpose of forming spots, means for moving the punch unitv in a direction'other than the direction of reciprocaticn for translating formed spots to an assembling station, said unit including a punch Ysleeve and a carrying plunger recip" rocable in and through sa-id sleeve and having an air duct therethrough, means for evacuating said duct to pneumatically hold a formed spot on said plunger, and means for projecting said plunger from the sleeve to present the spot at said station.

4. In a spot forming, and assembling apparatus, a punch unit, means for reciprocating the punch unit in the general direction of its axis for the purpose of forming spots, means for moving the punch unit in a direction other than the direction. of reciprocation for translating-formed spots to an assembling station, said unit including a punch sleeve and a carrying plunger reciprocable in and through said sleeve and having said duct to pneumatically hold a formed spot on said plunger, means for'projecting said plungpunch unit in a direction other than the direc' tion'of reciprocation for translating formed spots to an assembling station, said unit including a punch sleeve and a carrying plunger reciprocable in and through said sleeve and having an air duct therethrough, 'means for evacuating said duct to pneumatically holdv a formed spot on said plunger, means providing a heated zone, means for projecting said plunger from the sleeve to position the spot in said heat'zone, and means for projecting said plunger from the sleeve to present the spot at the assembling station.

6. In spot forming, and assembling apparatus, a punch unit, means for reciprocating the punch unit in the general direction of its a-xis for the purpose of forming spots, means for moving the projecting said plunger from the sleeve to present the spot at the assembling station,'and means for directing a blast-of air throu'gh the duct at said station for. expelling the spot from the plunger.

7. In a crown cap spotting machine, a rotatable turret having a guide bore in an edge portion thereof, a punch sleeve reciprocable in and through said bore. a die plate carried by said turret and engageable by saidpunch, a carrier plunger reciprocable inl and throughsaid sleeve and having an air duct therethrough, means for moving the sleeve and plunger in timed relation,

'and means for evacuating the duct .in said plunger to retain a punched spot against the end of said plunger.

8. In a crown cap spotting machine, a rotatable turret having a. guide bore in an edge portion thereof, a punch sleeve reciprocable in and through said bore, a die'plate carried by said turret .and engageable by said punch, a carrier plunger reciprocable in and through said sleeve and having anair duct therethrough, means for moving the sleeve and plunger in timed relation, means effective during a portion of the rotation of the turret for evacuating the duct in said plunger to retain a punched spot against the end of said plunger, and means effective during anotherl portion of the rotation of the turret to direct a blast of air through said duct to expel the previously retained spot from said plunger.

9. In a crown cap spotting machine, a rotatable turret having a plurality of guide bores disposed equidistantly in a circle about the edge portion of the turret, a punch1 sleeve reciprocable in and through each bore, a .die plate carried by said turret and having die holes therein to receive the punch sleeves, means carried by the turret for centering a crown cap beneath each punch sleeve, a carrier plunger reciprocable in and through each sleeve and each having an air duct therethrough, meansl for moving the sleeve and plunger in timed relation to form spots and then car'ry the formedspots to an assembling station and then apply them to crown caps, and means for evacuating the plunger ducts during the spot carrying intervals.

10. In a crown Acap spotting machine, .a ro'- tatable turret having a' plurality of guide bores disposed equidistantly in a circle about the edge portion. of the turret, a punch sleeve reciprocable in and through each bore, a die plate carried by said turret and having die holes therein to receive the punch sleeves, means carried by the turret for centering a crown cap beneath each punch sleeve, a carrier plunger reciprocable in and' through eaclrsleeve and each having an air duct therethrough, means for moving the sleeve and plunger in timed relation to form spots and then carry the formed spots to an assembling station and then'apply themto crown caps, means for of air through the plungers at the assembling evacuating the plunger ducts during the spot carrying intervals, and means for directing a 'blast of air through the plunger ducts during the spot applying intervals.

j' 1'1. In a crown cap spotting machine, a rotatable turret havingv a guide bore in an edge portlon'thereof, a punch sleeve reciprocable in and through said' bore, a die plate carried by s aid turret and engageable by said punch, a carrier plunger reciprocable in and through said sleeve and having an air duct therethrough, means for moving the sleeve and plungerin timed relation,-

and means for evacuating the duct in said plunger to retain a punched spot against the end of said plunger, said sleeve and plunger moving means including spring means tending-to move the plunger and sleeve o! each plunger and sleeve unit in opposite directions, and cam means engageable with said plungers and sleeves for movingthem in opposition to said spring means.

12. In a crown cap spotting machine; 'a rotatable turret having a plurality of guide bores disposed equidistantly in a circle about the edge portion of the turret, a punch sleeve reciprocable in and through each bore, a die plate carried by said turret and having die holes therein to receive the punch sleeves, means carried by the turret for centering a crown cap beneath veach punch sleeve, a carrier plunger reciprocable in andthrough each sleeve and each having an air duct therethrough, a punch and plunger control ring stationarily supported above the turret and having a pneumatic duct in a portion of the periphery thereof, a valve block carried by each plunger and slidable on said ring for controlling communication between the plunger and ring ducts, spring means interposed .between each punch sleeve and the valve block of its associated plunger and tending to move said plunger and sleeve in opposite directions, and cam means carried by the ring andengaged by said .plunger and sleeve elements for effecting movement of said elements in opposition to said spring means to form spots and then carry the formed spots to an assembling station and then apply them'to crown caps.

13. In acrown cap spotting machine,- a rotatable turret having a plurality of guide bores disposed equidistantly in a circle about the edge portion of the turret. a punch sleeve reciprocable in and through each bore, a die plate carried by said turret and having die holes therein to receive .the punch sleeves, means carried by the turret for centering a crown cap beneath each punch sleeve, a carrier plunger reciprocable in and through each sleeve and each having an air duct therethrough, a punch and plunger control ring stationarily supported above the turret and having circumferential suction and blast ducts in the periphery thereof and alined in a common plane, a valve block carried' by each plunger and slidable on said ring for controlling communica-4 tion between the plunger and ring ducts, spring means interposed between each punch sleeve and the valve block of its associated plunger and tending to move said plunger and sleeve in opposite directions, and cam means carried, by the ring and engaged by said plunger and sleeve elel ments for effecting movement of said elementsy in opposition to said spring means to form spots and then carry the formed'spots to'an assembling station andthen apply them to crown caps, said suction duct being positioned to evacuate the plunger ducts during carrying of the spots, and

Said blast duct being positioned to direct a blast station. f

14. In a crown cap spotting machine, a rotatable turret having a guidebore in an edge por-I tion thereof, a punch sleeve reciprocable in and through said bore. a die plate carried by said turret' and engageable by said punch, a carrier plunger reciprocable in and through said sleeve and having an air duct therethrough, means .for moving the sleeve and plunger in timed relation, means for evacuating the duct in said plunger tov retain a punched spot against the end of said plunger, and means for effecting longitudinal adjustments of the plunger and sleeve relation.

15,. In a crown cap spotting machine, a horizontally rotatable turret having a plurality of guide bores equidistantly spaced and vertically disposed in a circle about the edge portion of the turret, a punch sleeve reciprocable in and through each bore, a die plate carried by the turret, and

having die holes therein to receive the punchs leeves, means carried by the turret for centering a crown cap y beneath each punch sleeve, a carrier plunger reciprocable in and through each sleeve and each having an air duct therethrough,

`means for presenting a strip of spot material over the die. plate tangentially of and beneath the circle of punch sleeves, means for continuously rotating the turret, means for reciprocating the sleeves serially through the strip into the die plate to form spots and feed' the strip, means for evacuating each plunger duct as a spot is formed to hold the spot on the plungers, vmeans forming a heat zone beneath a sector ofthe die plate, means for projecting the plungers through ythe die plate to position the spots in the heat zone, means to feed crown caps to the centering means,

means for moving the plungers to apply the spots .to the caps, and means to direct a blast of air through the plunger ducts during application of the spots 16. In a crown capspotting machine, a horizontally .rotatable turret having a plurality of guide bores equidistantly spaced and vertically disposed in a circle about the edge portion of the turret, a punch sleeve reciprocable in and through each bore, a die plate carried by the turret and having die holes therein to receive the punch sleeves, means' carried by the turret for centering a crown cap beneath each punch sleeve, a carrier plunger reciprocable in and through each sleeve and each having an air duct therethrough, means for presenting a strip of spot material over the die plate tangentially of and beneath the circle of punch sleeves, means for continuously rotating the turret, means for reciprocating'the sleeves serially through the strip into the die plate to form spots and feed the strip, means for evacuating each plunger duct as a spot is formed to hold ing a ring of setting plungersand means! for ele--4 vating the plungers to receive and d harge spotted caps and spring devices for at othe times holding said setting plungers against the spotted caps, and means for transferring the spotted caps from the first to the second mentioned turret.

17. In a crown cap spotting machine, a movable turret, punch umts movable with the turrets andl each having a duct opening through the end thereof, means disposing a fusible adhesive coated material in position for being engaged by said umts, means for moving the umts to form spots from said material, means for feeding crown caps to position for engagement by said umts, means for at times evacuating the unit ducts and for at' times causing a blast of air to pass through said ducts to alternateiy'eifect attachment of the spots to the units and detachmentA of tlie lspots from the umts, means for applying heat to soften the fusible adhesive, and .setting pressure applying means.

18. Inapparatus of the character described vwherein is provided a spot forming station, a

spot on the punch, means for moving the punch means and the spot thereon through the heat zone to the assembling station, means for press# ing the punch means against a crown cap at the assembling station to aiilx the spot thereto, and

means for pneumatically aiding the pressing oi' the spot against the crown cap at said assembly station.

ALFRED L. KRONQUEST. l5 

